John,

Right now, we need to defend our right to express political views and criticize our government. I got to attend a training this week from the Detroit & Michigan Chapter of the National Lawyers Guild, a group defending our right to dissent. Can you chip in now to support their urgent work?

During and since the George Floyd uprising in 2020, the Detroit & Michigan Chapter has coordinated legal support to the Black Lives Matter movement, with Legal Observers on the ground for over 100 consecutive days of racial justice marches.

The group provided legal defense for over 400 protesters in Detroit and around the state, which led to a big victory for protesters and stopped the Detroit police’s violent tactics.

Since 2023, the Detroit & Michigan Chapter of the National Lawyers Guild has also been defending pro-Palestinian activists and holding institutions accountable for violating students’ rights.

And recently, the group pivoted to expand legal representation for immigrants, provide life-saving Know Your Rights trainings for immigrant communities, and send Legal Observers to defend the rights of protesters at anti-fascist actions across the state.

The NLG Detroit & Michigan Chapter does all this with a small part-time staff, volunteers, and often limited funds.

Will you chip in today to support the Detroit & Michigan Chapter of the National Lawyers Guild’s essential work to protect our constitutional rights in the face of increasing attacks?

The Detroit & Michigan National Lawyers Guild Chapter trains Legal Observers and sends them to support progressive actions across the state.

They attend demonstrations to monitor law enforcement behavior toward activists, information that’s then shared with National Lawyers Guild (NLG) attorneys in support of activists’ court cases.

While on the ground, NLG Legal Observers work with NLG attorneys to coordinate arrest support for activists, and then the group represents activists who’ve been arrested or charged.

They’ve supported people resisting white supremacy, demanding an end to deportations and detention, and more—and they’re responding to urgent ongoing requests from people whose rights are being violated.

Please donate today to support the Detroit & Michigan National Lawyers Guild in the essential fight for our rights, dignity, and safety.

Thank you for supporting activists’ ability to express their political views. Together, we’re expanding the fight for our rights such as the right to free speech and the right to due process.

In solidarity,

Rashida

---------- Forwarded message ---------
From: Rashida Tlaib
Date: Thu, May 29, 2025
Subject: Defend protesters’ right to free speech and immigrants’ rights
To: [email protected]

John,

This week, my team and I helped host a Legal Observer training run by the Detroit & Michigan Chapter of the National Lawyers Guild.

I’m a proud member of the Detroit & Michigan Chapter of the National Lawyers Guild, which protects the rights of people fighting for social change. This work is especially needed now as Trump tries to criminalize and deport protesters.

The group has successfully defended Black Lives Matter protesters, stopping Detroit police from using violent attacks and baseless mass arrests in 2020 and beyond.

Recently, while providing ongoing support for pro-Palestinian protesters and holding universities accountable for violating students’ rights, the Detroit & Michigan NLG Chapter has had to pivot in response to the new presidential administration.

Now they must respond to increased requests for Legal Observers at anti-fascist actions, legal representation for immigrants, and Know Your Rights trainings for immigrant communities. These are powerful tools against Trump’s attacks: ICE can’t round up as many people now that more folks know they don’t have to answer the door.

With escalating attacks on students, immigrants, and our right to free speech and due process rights, can you chip in now to support the National Lawyers Guild Detroit & Michigan Chapter’s urgent work?

The Detroit & Michigan NLG Chapter trains Legal Observers who attend demonstrations around the state to monitor law enforcement behavior toward activists. They work with NLG attorneys to share information that can help activists in court and to coordinate arrest support for activists. Legal Observers also often deter police violence by being present.

Fighting against police brutality for decades, the Detroit & Michigan Chapter of the National Lawyers Guild has provided Legal Observers and jail support for the Ferguson Uprising and the George Floyd uprising. In 2020, Legal Observers from the Detroit & Michigan Chapter showed up for over 100 consecutive days of racial justice marches in Detroit and at many protests in other parts of Michigan.

The group coordinated legal support and defense for over 400 protesters around the state and won a Preliminary Injunction against the Detroit police’s abuses of protesters, leading to a ruling that the City of Detroit and the Detroit Police Department violated the constitutional rights of protesters. An important victory for the movement!

As organizers from Palestine Solidarity Grand Rapids said at a recent event with the Detroit & Michigan Chapter of the National Lawyer's Guild, “knowing that networks like the NLG exist and that Legal Observers have our backs at actions make the work safer and give us the support we need to be in the streets fighting for justice.”

Now the Detroit & Michigan NLG Chapter is fighting back against the Trump administration’s attacks on our communities, including speaking out for transgender and intersex American citizens in opposition to the administration’s changes to gender markers on passports.

The NLG Detroit & Michigan Chapter does all this with just two part-time staff members, a team of volunteer attorneys and Legal Observers, and often limited funds.

Can you chip in today to help the National Lawyers Guild Detroit & Michigan Chapter continue defending our human rights in this urgent moment?

Thank you so much for continuing to defend our rights, including our right to protest. Together we will keep building progressive power for the world we all deserve where all people can thrive.

In solidarity,

Rashida

P.S. You can find out more about the Detroit and Michigan Chapter of the National Lawyers Guild here, and you can find their Guide to Immigration Resources here.